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The House on Eighth
Street
The first and last house the Lincolns ever
owned. It was
only a story and a half when they purchased it in May of 1844.
The home is decorated to reflect the home as it looked in
1860. The
Lincoln's lived here for seventeen years |
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Mary Todd Lincoln's choice was Victorian Decor and
her
home was a show place. Here the Park service has
done a good job of
restoring it to the way it looked when
the Lincoln's lived here. Maybe even
a bit better than
even Mary Todd. |
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Sitting room |
This is the Guest room |
The cooking Room |
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| The Lincolns' home was purchased from the
Reverend Charles Dresser for the price of $1,200 dollars and a shop that
Lincoln owned across the public square valued at $300. Robert was then 6
months old. By the way if was Reverend Charles Dresser that married the
Lincoln's on the 4th of November 1842. In 1856 the Lincolns' added a second
floor to the home and a kitchen wing on the back. This added plenty of room
for bedrooms upstairs and devoted more room downstairs for the parlors. Mary
enjoyed this home and kept it decorated well for the many people who would
visit. She and the boys would spend many months here alone while Abraham was
riding the eight circuit practicing law. The home would be sold in 1865 when
Abraham and the family moved to Washington where he would assume office as
the 16th President of the United States on March 4th.
The family had many important thing happen to them in the 17 years they
lived here. Edward would die before his 4th birthday. Lincoln would run for
the Senate on the Whig ticket in 1846. One of the best stories about Lincoln
came out of this run for office against Peter Cartwright an old evangelist.
The quick witted Lincoln gave him this answer after Cartwright asked those
in attendance "Who thought they were going to heaven or hell to stand" after
Lincoln failed to stand either time. Cartwright challenged him: "Just where
are you going Mr. Lincoln?" "I'm going to Congress," Lincoln responded.
Lincoln would again run for the Senate. This time against the incumbent
Senator Steven Douglas in 1858. The debates against Douglas and the speech
given at Coopers Union make Lincoln a leading candidate for the 1860
national campaign. |
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At left near the Old State Capital Building
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| Center and right, just across the street from the Old State Capital. This
building served as the Capital from 1839 to 1876. Abraham Lincoln came
here and practiced before the ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT. He gave the "HOUSE
DIVIDED" speech here in 1858. The Governor's Room became his informal
headquarters during the 1860 Presidential Campaign. In 1865 citizens
paid there last respects in Representatives Hall before the burial at
OAK RIDGE CEMETERY
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02/13/07 Date page was
last updated
Copyright © by
Abraham Lincoln Graphics
2002 |
